The First Amendment Coalition and 10 other advocacy organizations, including SPJ NorCal, called on the California judiciary today to recognize the public’s First Amendment right of access to court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Courts across California are halting proceedings, restricting access to buildings and holding some hearings telephonically, raising concerns that members of the public and the press, who are exempt from the state’s stay-at-home order, will face insurmountable barriers to access. The First Amendment and California law guarantee a public right of access to criminal and civil court proceedings, as well as records relating to those proceedings.”